SO England duly dispatched Bangladesh inside three days at Old Trafford in one of the most one-sided Test series in years.

Even with the rain, England clattered through the Bangladesh batting like a drunk in a china shop. It was brutal and not very elegant – but maximum damage was inflicted as Andrew Strauss was left to celebrate another win and another chance to say that James Anderson is the best thing since sliced bread.

And yes, it does again pose the question of whether Bangladesh really deserve Test status.

The only answer to that can be no they don’t. They are simply not good enough and aside for a two-match win against the West Indies when the West Indies were on strike and fielded a team so youthful that their lunch consisted of rusks, they have done nothing in their surprisingly long international career.

Okay, they also beat Zimbabwe in one match. Big effort. Zimbabwe were not good enough either.

If the ICC insist that Bangladesh are worthy of a Test place then surely Ireland must get a crack – and possibly even Holland. To be honest, I have seen better league sides than Bangladesh. It is mad that they are in the Test arena at all.

But given how poor the opposition was for England, the reaction of the Old Trafford faithful was special.

To see so many people paying their hard-earned cash to watch what is in truth a mismatch shows that the good people of Lancashire deserve Test cricket.

The ongoing developments of Old Trafford are not everyone’s cup of tea but change has to come. The ground had not been kept in good order over the past few decades and that is why Lancashire were in danger of losing Test status.

The work is eye catching to say the least. And it is different. It is a talking point and it may just preserve Test cricket at one of the most famous grounds on the planet.

Losing that Test match status would be a travesty.

The cricket fans of the north west deserve top notch sport and anyone not happy with what is happening off the field at Old Trafford should remember that before they vent their spleen about their dislike of the improvements.

l WHISPERS reach me that one local – and quite youthful – professional cricketer had a rather awkward moment when out drinking with the big boys last week...and then blamed the food he had eaten when he was quite ill as a result.